FOR YOUR HEALTH: What You Need to Know About Cataracts

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Keep an eye on your sight. Blurry vision, faded colors and double images can all be symptoms of cataracts—which can be cured.

(NAPSI)—By age 80, most people either have cataracts or have had cataract surgery. That’s because most cataracts are the result of natural aging. You may not notice that you have a cataract at first. But over time, they can make your vision blurry or hazy, colors fade, you can’t see well at night, or you may see double images. The good news is that cataract surgery can restore your sight. With a high success rate of more than 90 percent, cataract surgery enables people to see better after their cataract is removed.

Here are the top six things ophthalmologists – physicians who specialize in medical and surgical eye care – want you to know about cataracts:

1. Cataracts can be removed with surgery. Surgery is the only way to cure cataracts. Early on, you may be able to cope with reduced vision from cataracts by using brighter lights, wearing anti-glare sunglasses, or using magnifying lenses for reading. But if cataracts start getting in the way of everyday activities such as reading, driving, or watching TV, an ophthalmologist will need to remove the clouded natural lens and replace it with an artificial lens, also called an intraocular lens (or IOL), to correct blurry vision.

2. You can slow development of early cataracts. You can take steps to protect your eyes from cataracts. Using 100 percent UV blocking sunglasses, quitting smoking, maintaining control over high blood sugar, and eating a healthy diet can help prevent cataracts.

3. People with diabetes are more likely to get cataracts. Natural aging is the most common cause of cataracts, but some people are at higher risk for cataracts than others. People who have diabetes with high blood sugar levels can get cataracts quicker and at a younger age than those with normal blood sugar levels. Improving glucose levels may help delay cataracts.

4. Eye color affects your risk of developing cataracts. Studies show that people with dark brown eyes have a higher risk of developing cataracts than people with lighter eyes. However, UV light is a known contributor to cataract development no matter what color your eyes are. Wearing sunglasses whenever outdoors is recommended for everyone.

5. Treating cataracts may decrease your risk of dementia. Though the link between eye health and dementia is unclear, recent studies suggest people who had cataract surgery were 30 percent less likely to develop dementia.

6. You may eventually need a follow-up procedure. Some people will again develop hazy vision years after cataract surgery. This is usually because the lens capsule has become cloudy. The capsule is the part of your eye that holds the IOL in place. Your ophthalmologist can use a laser to open the cloudy capsule and restore clear vision, a procedure called a capsulotomy.

Regular eye exams are important to maintaining your best vision, even after cataract surgery. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends scheduling a visit to the ophthalmologist every year after cataract surgery if you’re older than 65, or every two years if under 65.

Can’t Afford an Eye Exam? EyeCare America® Can Help.

For individuals age 65 or older who are concerned about their risk of eye disease and/or the cost of an eye exam, you may be eligible for a medical eye exam, often at no out-of-pocket cost, through the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s EyeCare America® program. This public service program matches volunteer ophthalmologists with eligible patients in need of eye care across the United States. To see if you or a loved one qualifies, visit www.aaoinfo.com/ECApatient to determine your eligibility.

CRITTER CHATTER: Some things never change at the wildlife center

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by Jayne Winters

Admissions at Duck Pond Wildlife Care Center slow down at this time of year; the only new resident I saw today was a gray squirrel which had been hit by a car several days ago. No external injuries were seen and Don said it was eating and drinking normally, so hopefully it has suffered only bruising. Although seemingly on the road to recovery, the weather is too cold now for release, so he’ll be moved from his carrier in the living room to a larger cage in the basement until spring time. The little red squirrel rescued from the glue trap is doing very well, but his tail reminds me of a poodle that has been groomed, with the tuft of fur on the end. He and Chippy will also be overwintering with Don and enjoy the peanuts I’ve left as a treat.

As most of us are looking forward to Christmas and time off from work or school, Don and the volunteers at Duck Pond get no vacation or reprieve. The daily chores still have to be done, no matter the weather, chilly temperatures or dark hours. Preparations for winter were well documented by Carleen in previous columns:

From 2008: “The babies that arrived in the spring and summer have been released. There is much to do before the first snowstorm. All the dishes, cages, empty pens and dog houses used to shelter animals need to be cleaned, repaired and painted. The power washer is a tremendous help…dirt and mud just melt away and soon they are clean and white, ready to be stored for the winter. Nothing is put away dirty. The mobile pens are moved to one area where they will be covered with tarps to protect them from the snow and ice.

The young deer need to be moved to their winter pen. Barriers are set up to walk them from one pen to the next. The concern is that they not get spooked, jump over the barrier and run off, probably never to be caught and too young to be on their own in the wild. The geese and ducks need to be rounded up off the ponds. This can be a challenge as they always want to go in the wrong direction.”

From 2009: “After the animals ready for release are gone, reality sets in again. Pens need to have tarps replaced as the raccoons really enjoy shredding them. Buildings and shelters in need of paint will be spiffed up.

Living in Maine, the inevitable happens – the first snowfall. We sit in the warm house, watching the accumulation, knowing that we will soon have to remove snow from the pens that hold the wildlife that were not big or fat enough to be released in the fall. Pens will need to be shoveled, along with plowing and using the snow blower to clear paths to all the enclosures. Ice will be pounded from every water container several times a day as fresh water freezes almost instantly. Whatever hasn’t frozen to the bottom of the pen (food and other debris) will be raked up, carried away and disposed of. Everyone needs to be fed – hay is carried to the deer pen and grain to where the birds are housed.

The howling winds, bitter cold and blowing snow do not end calls about wildlife in need. Homeowners want unwelcome skunks removed from under their houses. Raccoons, deer, and other animals that are victims of vehicle hits will need to be picked up and taken to the vet to determine if injuries are life threatening. If not, they will recover at the Care Center [or transferred to another rehabber] until spring release. The work really never ends, it just slows down for a few months. In spite of all the work and heartache over animals we are unable to save, we always look forward to the first spring baby!”

Don and his volunteers greatly appreciate other rehabbers who continue to generously provide assistance to help keep critter care at Duck Pond manageable. Please check the following web sites to see if there is one near you: https://www.mainevetmed.org/wildlife-rehabilitation or https://www.maine.gov/ifw/fish-wildlife/wildlife/living-with-wildlife/orphaned-injured-wildlife/index.html – Donald Cote operates Duck Pond Wildlife Care Center on Rte. 3 in Vassalboro. It is a non-profit state permitted rehab facility which is supported by his own resources and outside donations. Mailing address: 1787 North Belfast Ave., Vassalboro ME 04989 TEL: (207) 445-4326. Please note the previous e-mail address is no longer monitored.

LIFE ON THE PLAINS: Christmas on The Plains

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Water St., Waterville, The Plains, circa 1930. Note the trolley in the center of the photo. The trolley ceased operations on October 10, 1937. Many of the buildings in this photo are no longer there. (photo courtesy of Roland Hallee)

by Roland D. Hallee

Growing up on The Plains in the ‘50s and ‘60s saw many changes when it came to Christmas.

My early memories included going out with the family one evening to a lot and picking out a Christmas tree. My dad took it home, set it up on a homemade stand, and commenced to reconfigure Mother Nature’s creation.

That consisted of cutting some excess branches from one side, drilling a hole in the trunk in some bare areas, and inserting the cut branches. He did this until the tree was symmetrical. Then we decorated it.

That went on for several years, until my mother decided she had had enough with decorating, and my dad didn’t want to do any more spruce cosmetic work.

They bought an artificial tree. It was nothing like today. This tree was silver. Completely artificial and commercial. There was a light that would set on the floor behind, with a flood light, that had a multi-colored wheel that would rotate – blue…yellow…green…red, etc.

That tree was set up in the living room. Christmas was held on Sunday, after church, while my mother would prepare the Christmas dinner, of roast beef, mashed potatoes, vegetables, rolls, you get the picture. Our grandparents, who lived next door, always came, too.

As we grew older, things changed again. Now, my dad had finished a portion of the basement into a “rumpus” room. That is where the artificial tree was set up. But, come Christmas, there were more changes. My mother didn’t want the hustle and bustle of Christmas day, so it was off to midnight Mass on Christmas eve. Afterwards, mom would warm up the tourtère pies, and we would have the distributing of Christmas gifts at that time. Of course, until we were old enough to attend the midnight Mass, we had to wait at home until the adults returned. Again, the grandparents were present.

Following the holidays, when we had a real tree, my mother was meticulous in taking down the Christmas tree, making sure every last piece of tinsel was removed before it was put out to the street for the annual city Christmas tree pickup.

When I was about nine years old, my parents went out one evening and left us four boys at home – my oldest brother was old enough to babysit. While rough-housing with my younger brother, we discovered Christmas gifts “hidden” behind the couch. So much for Santa.

But, as much as Christmases are always special, especially once my wife and I raised our two children, enjoyed the day with our grandchildren, and now experiencing Christmas with our great-grandchildren, Christmases are even more special.

But the memories of Christmas on The Plains in the ‘50s and ‘60s will always have a place in my memory.

MY POINT OF VIEW: How did they come about the date for Christmas?

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by Gary Kennedy

Here it is December again, already, and 2023 is rapidly coming to an end. This is the month that we celebrate the birth of our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ. The date of birth of Jesus is not actually stated in the gospel nor in any historical record. Biblical scholars believe his date of birth to be between 4 BC (the year King Herod died) and 6 AD (the year of the census of Quirinius).

The rationale behind the date December 25th was due to the date of Jesus crucifixion. Christians developed the idea that Jesus’ was born exactly nine months after March 25th, the traditional date of Jesus’ crucifixion. It was believed that Jesus was conceived and crucified on the same date; the date of his birth was nine months later. For me this isn’t a logical explanation for this event but no one seemed to make a case against it.

The historical records state that Pope Julius in 350 AD asserted December 25th to be Christ’s birth date. This also is a dubious unfounded claim. There are other possibilities that I find more scientific. Going by the New Testament, Mathew 2:1 states that Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Judea in the time of Herod the King. Herod’s death would have been around 4 BC. A good guess here for Jesus’ birth could be around just before 4 BC. If you read John 2:20 you will find agreement between Luke and John. However, if you are truly looking for the year of Jesus’ birth, you’re in for a long haul as some arguments are centuries apart.

When I started this research, for pleasure only, I was looking only for a seasonal date. Nothing I had read in the past spoke of winter as such. Considering the geographical location of the birth of Christ you don’t have snow or rain as a marker so you need other things. I believe by now the actual month of Christ birth can be more or less figured out. The year of Christ’s birth is around 4 BC.

The historical record is too incomplete for any sort of accuracy regarding the year of his birth. December 25th is accepted as his month and day. It’s highly unlikely that is true but considering the lack of information and our need to celebrate his birth I suppose December 25th will have to do.

We do know and it should be acknowledged that it is more than likely Jesus was born closer to harvest time and not winter. There is mention of the shepherds watching over their sheep. When winter was about to appear the shepherds would go into the mountains and drive their flocks down to the low lands where it was warmer with more favorable foraging and shelter. Also, there was astronomical mention of the placement of stars. Some scientists have pinpointed September as a likely time for this event.

However, I believe we stopped looking for that particular answer a long time ago and decided if the good Lord felt it was of great importance he would have had it laid out more clearly. Perhaps he disliked birthdays as I do. For whatever reason we have accepted December 25th as the birthday of our lord, Jesus Christ. It is a time when we rejoice and are thankful that he was born, thus giving us the opportunity for everlasting life in paradise.

This year I hope all of you will spend time praying for our brothers and sisters in the world. Many are suffering and dying in a world of unrest. This is a world of plenty, without unity. Many have lost their way and need to find the path to righteousness. If you are a Christian then you believe in Christ. Christ is the righteousness from God. (1st Cor. 1:30) God paid the price for all of us (Rom 3:21-26). Being righteous literally means to be right. It’s a moral path with the Bible as a guide. I have always loved seeing that special glow on a Christians face. You can tell at a glance the person has a beautiful heart. I personally strive to join them in the place they exist. My prayer for everyone this Christmas season is to see that beautiful glow on more faces. It is a search that one must make in order to embrace the beauty of righteousness.

This year I for one ask all my fellow Christians to include the true beauty of Christmas with all the other gifts that are placed under the Christmas tree. It’s the one gift you don’t and can’t purchase. (Brotherly love) The poorest of us has this gift available for giving. Set the arrogant pride aside and develop and give the one thing that was given to and for you, LOVE. I am sure you will radiate with that glow I previously mentioned.

From my family to yours and I am sure all here at The Town Line newspaper’s staff and board of directors, wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas. May each and every one of you receive that wonderful and precious gift that I have spoken of and carry it into the New Year. Never forget those less fortunate then you.

Last but not least, remember our elderly and our veterans. Many of them are needy during these holiday times. They are all part of love and respect. God bless and keep you and yours safe. Have a Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year.

The views of the author of this column are not necessarily those of The Town Line newspaper, its staff and board of directors.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Eat Beets to Get Back on Your Feet!

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by Dr. Stephanie Rubino, ND

Eat your veggies! This well-established advice is an essential part of our daily nutrition habits, and for good reason. Rich in vitamins, minerals, and important phytochemicals, abundant vegetable intake promotes health and reduces chronic disease risk. Among the various vegetables available, beetroots have gained scientific attention in recent years.

Low in calories and fat, beetroots are also a good source of protein and dietary fibre. Although beetroots have a high carbohydrate and sugar content, the body can readily convert these compounds into energy. Research has noted the role of beetroots in supporting physical performance, vascular health, cardiorespiratory disorders, and diabetes, thanks to vital bioactive compounds listed below:

Vitamins (C, B1, B6, A, K, E, plus β-carotene);
Minerals (calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, selenium, zinc);
Nitrates, Betalains and Polyphenols.

Beetroots are some of the highest dietary sources of nitrates, a compound also found in other vegetables such as spinach, lettuce, celery, and radish. The body can convert dietary nitrates into nitric oxide, a signaling molecule essential for health. One study found that beetroot juice supplementation led to a 21% increase in nitric oxide levels 45 minutes after consumption. That’s impressive!

Nitric oxide has been shown to relax and dilate blood vessels, improve blood flow, reduce blood pressure, and increase nutrient and oxygen delivery to the heart, brain, and muscles. Additional benefits of nitric oxide include immune function support, glucose and calcium homeostasis, and regulation of the mitochondria, our energy powerhouses.

Our body’s ability to produce nitric oxide decreases with age, increasing our risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. However, increased dietary intake of nitrates with beetroot juice has been shown to influence blood pressure. In one systematic review, the efficacy of beetroot juice supplementation was associated with significantly lower levels of blood pressure. An additional review of studies looking at the health benefits of beetroot juice found that because of their support of blood pressure, beets “should be promoted as a key component of a healthy lifestyle” in healthy and hypertensive individuals.

Beetroot juice is associated with significantly lower levels of blood pressure.

High nitrate levels in beetroot juice have also been investigated for their sport-enhancing benefits, especially in endurance activities. Nitrates can impact other factors such as oxygen uptake, blood flow, platelet aggregation, heart rate, cardiac output, and performance. Nitric oxide supports the more efficient use of oxygen in the body, thereby making beetroots a great choice for athletes and anyone with an active and demanding lifestyle. Research also points to the benefits of beetroot juice supplementation for individuals with peripheral artery disease, helping them to exercise with less pain and at higher workloads for longer time periods during individual training sessions.

Betalains are another important active compound in beetroots that possess antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant benefits, helping to support health conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases, asthma, arthritis, intestinal inflammation, and diabetes.

Add beetroots to your life.

Beetroots have great potential to be used as a medicinal food, and supplementation has been described as an easy, cost-effective, and evidence-based strategy to reduce blood pressure and support other positive health outcomes. Enjoy this superfood on its own, or generously add it to salads, soups, or smoothies. Fermented beetroot supplements are especially beneficial – the traditional food preservation technique of fermentation helps improve digestibility and nutrient bioavailability for overall health.

Dr. Stephanie Rubino operates a general naturopathic practice with a focus on women’s health, and digestive health. She has a special interest in educating the public and other health professionals about a range of health topics and natural health product issues.

THE BEST VIEW: Snapshots

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by Norma Best Boucher

After supper yesterday when my friends and I were walking, we saw first, an osprey, then a hawk, and bringing up the rear a black bird chasing the other two.

The osprey landed on the bank of the retention pond only to find the hawk swooping down upon him. They both took flight with the black bird literally on their tails. The osprey and hawk flew off in opposite directions. With those birds gone, the black bird returned to the tree where he most likely was guarding a nest.

There was a lot of action and noise for a few seconds.

I do believe there is definitely a lesson to be learned from this David and two Goliaths’ battle.

* * * * * *

We have a new “homemade” donut shop that just opened near my house. I mean within walking distance.

A neighbor gave me a sample, a mochi donut, which was the best donut I have ever eaten. So, of course, I had to go to the new shop. Mochi donuts are only sold on the weekends. This was Monday, so I bought a coconut donut.

When I saw the coconut atop the donut, I immediately thought of Harris Bakery coconut cream donuts. Today’s coconut donut was good but not Harris Bakery good.

I will return Saturday for a Mochi donut.

* * * * * *

When retired people panic:

The books I put on hold at different times at the library have all come in at the same time – Today!

AGH!

I hope some of these are the DVD’s I ordered.

* * * * * *

OMG! Another library notice – Another book is in, either the fourth or the fifth. I have lost count.

This is either a “horn of plenty” or “When it rains, it pours.”

Can you believe this?

How many books/DVDs have I actually requested?

Another retiree problem – I don’t remember. The exact total of books reserved isn’t yet in my long-term memory.

I ponder this dilemma.

You know, I go for days with nothing exciting happening.

I think that I am going to savor this moment of drama.

* * * * * *

When I went to eat at a fast food restaurant today, I hit a roadblock, literally. I drove on the third lane circling the building bypassing the drive thru windows and was halted by a rope across the pathway. I wouldn’t have cared, but there was no sign warning about this blocked roadway. Luckily, when I had to back up, there was no one else behind me.

When I ordered my lunch at the inside counter, I reported, to no avail, the possibly dangerous dilemma that cars were encountering.

With my lunch I sat by a window that overlooked the questionable parking lot area where several cars went in and then backed out of the roped off area. At one point three cars were caught together and backed up in a rather chaotic strategy.

The climax of my lunch was when a Waste Management truck passed by, could not reach the trash receptacle, and backed up with the very loud backup alarm catching everyone’s attention including the drive-thru customers who could not yell loudly enough to order over the loud alarm.

I finished my lunch, grabbed my book, which I had not even opened, and left the building. I went to my car, which I had parked a very long way away. I was careful as the parking lot had become an obstacle course with my dodging cars that were still going and retreating in that blocked lane.

The dodging of cars was not the only problem.

The odor from the Waste Management truck still lingered in the air.

Do you remember when we were young, and our mothers gave us the mail addressed “Occupant?” How I loved getting that mail. I don’t know if I even knew what the word “Occupant” meant, but I rushed to the mailbox for “my” mail.

Now the “Occupant “reads “Resident,” and there is so much “Resident” mail that I have to take a bag to the mailbox to collect it all.

One good thing, though, is that I now know the difference between yesterday’s “Occupant” and today’s “Resident.”

Today’s “Resident” means I pay the bills.

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Fred Bonnie, Lionel Barrymore, Ronald Reagan

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Fred Bonnie book

Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Fred Bonnie

Bridgton native Fred Bonnie (1945-2000) attended a two-room schoolhouse, in North Bridgton, until his father’s death in 1954 and the family’s move to Portland. He graduated in 1964 from Cheverus High School and in 1971 with honors from the University of Vermont.

Mr. Bonnie moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where he became gardening editor for Southern Living Magazine for a number of years and taught writing courses at the Uni­versity of Alabama.

He wrote novels, collections of short stories and books on gardening and best expressed his beginnings as a writer and his thematic concerns in two paragraphs found in the author biographies section of the 1989 anthology Maine Speaks:

“Growing up in Maine had a lot to do with my becoming a writer. As a child, I was indoctrinated with the Natives-versus-Outsiders frame of mind. Complaining about the outsiders has become the state sport. In Portland, I was exposed to a broad range of human types. Portland is small, but has some people most of us would call weird. A port city tends to have street people, some interesting, some just pitiful. But decades before the street people gained national news attention, they were common in downtown Portland.

“As a part-time dishwasher in a downtown restaurant when I was in high school, I observed at close range the types of people John Steinbeck and Erskine Caldwell were writing about in the 1930s and ‘40s. I write about people trying to deal with life. I’ve always sympathized with underdogs. I hope I always do.”

In a short story, The State Meet, and in keeping with Fred Bonnie’s interest in, and compassion for, the underdogs of society and the ever-present undercurrents of indescribable anxieties intruding into the inner emotional lives of these underdogs, Fred Bonnie’s gift for connecting Maine’s at times not so beautiful landscape with the terrors of a teenage boy on a very long bus ride from Portland to a state cross country race at an unnamed University near Bangor is conveyed in the following passage-

“By the time the bus reached Bangor, the sky was grayer and colder. Rain seemed certain. Daniel hated running in the rain, with the paths muddy and the grassy fields like swamps. The drive from Bangor to the University field house was short. They arrived long before Daniel could accept being there. He was the last one to leave the bus.”

On May 13, 2000, Fred Bonnie died from injuries sustained in an automobile accident three days earlier. He was 54.

Lionel Barrymore

Lionel Barrymore

An MGM/Longines Symphonette LP features the great actor Lionel Barrymore (1878-1954) portraying Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens justly immortal A Christmas Carol. Barrymore conveyed a presence in that role that, for me, was only surpassed by Alastair Sims in the 1951 black and white English film version, although others such as Reginald Owens in the 1937 MGM American version; Mister Magoo in the early ‘60s cartoon; and George C. Scott in one made for TV during the 1980s, each scored points as the miser turned kind man in the space of a few hours.
Side 2 has David Rose and his orchestra doing 12 Xmas carols in nicely old-fashioned arrangements with lots of strings and quite the change from Rose’s brassy 1960s megahit, The Stripper.

Ronald Reagan

Ronald Reagan

In the on-going survey of former presidents, I shall deal with Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) quickly and concisely.

A. His last film as a mobster in the 1964 made for TV, The Killers, with co-stars John Cassavetes, Claude Akins, Lee Marvin, Clu Gulagher and Angie Dickinson was riveting.

B. His brokering of a treaty with Mikhail Gorbachev remains a fine example of diplomacy, good will and friendship with a former Premier of the former Soviet Union and an ideological adversary.

C. His courage in writing a farewell letter to the American people when he was beginning his downslide with dementia and Alzheimer’s.

SMALL SPACE GARDENING: Dress up the holidays with succulent plants

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A succulent wreath placed around a candle makes a festive holiday centerpiece. (photo courtesy of MelindaMyers.com)

by Melinda Myers

Many people are opting for more natural elements in their holiday displays and those that easily blend with their home décor. Popular succulent plants fit this trend whether decorating your home, setting a festive table, or giving as a gift. You and your guests will enjoy the easy care of succulents and the beauty they provide beyond the holidays.

Small-scale cacti and succulents provide a multitude of opportunities for use in holiday celebrations. Just select containers that complement, but don’t overpower their charm.

Use them to dress up the table by making them into place cards for your guests. Plant individual succulents in a small clay pot and set one by each place setting. Include the guest’s name or holiday wish on a plant tag set in the pot or written on the container. Send them home with your guests to enjoy for months to come.

Repurpose holiday mugs, champagne glasses, bottles and other items into succulent planters. Fill whatever container you choose with a well-drained cacti and succulent mix and display it on beverage or serving tables and trays. Just be careful not to overwater since the container you choose may lack drainage holes.

Empty wine bottles also make fun planters to display any time of the year. You will need to cut a large opening or several smaller holes into the side of the wine bottle or you may opt to buy one that is pre-cut. Fill the bottle with a cacti and succulent mix. The wine bottle planter can be displayed on its side but needs support to prevent it from rolling off the table. One simple method uses two corks and strong wire to create a cradle for your bottle garden. You can also plant just the bottom of the wine bottle and stand it up for a different look. Or consider drilling several holes in the side of the bottle. Plant small succulents in the holes. Secure the plants in place with a bit of sphagnum moss or glue if needed to hold the plants in place once the bottle is set upright.

Create a centerpiece for gatherings by planting them in a shallow container. Their unique shapes and colors blend nicely with any décor. Or display individual potted specimens in the container to enjoy throughout the evening. When the party is over, each guest can pick a plant to take home.

You won’t need much space to enjoy the subtle colors and dramatic forms of these drought-tolerant plants. Skip the seasonal greenery and use succulents to dress up candle displays. Create a terrarium of succulents using any clear glass container with an open top or lid set ajar. Succulents do not thrive in the humid conditions of closed containers.

Take it one step further and create a succulent tree. Fill a cone-shaped wire frame with moist sphagnum moss. Use cuttings or small plants to cover the frame. You may need to expand the opening to fit the roots through the wires and into the moss.

Include the name and care directions when sending plants home with guests. This makes it easier for the recipient to keep their gift thriving once it arrives home. Suggest they keep it near a sunny window where temperatures are a bit cooler and free of hot and cold air drafts.

Water succulents thoroughly and only when the soil is dry. Pour off any excess water that collects in the saucer. Avoid overwatering plants growing in containers that lack drainage holes. As the days lengthen and the light intensity increases, the plants will need more frequent watering. Fertilize once or twice during the time the plants are actively growing.

Be sure to keep a few succulents for yourself. A succulent centerpiece is a great addition to any gathering at any time of the year.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including the recently released Midwest Gardener’s Handbook, 2nd Edition and Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses “How to Grow Anything” instant video and DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV & radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers’ website is www.MelindaMyers.com.

SCORES & OUTDOORS: The northern cardinal: bird of the season

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Roland D. Halleeby Roland D. Hallee

One of my wife’s favorite birds is the northern cardinal. We’ve had a nesting pair hanging around our house for a couple of years now, and we both enjoy watching the brilliant red male go about its business. The northern cardinal is also synonymous with winter, and adorns many a Christmas card.

That has not always been the case.

One of our most popular birds, the cardinal is the official state bird of no fewer than seven eastern states: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia. Abundant in the Southeast, it has been extending its range northward for decades, and it now brightens winter days with its color and its whistled song as far north as southeastern Canada. Feeders stocked with sunflower seeds may have aided its northward spread. West of the Great Plains, the Cardinal is mostly absent, but it is locally common in the desert Southwest.

Widespread and abundant, having expanded its range over the last century or more, the current numbers are probably stable. It inhabits woodland edges, thickets, suburban gardens, towns, desert washes. Found in a wide variety of brushy or semi-open habitats in the East, from forest clearings and swamps to city parks, almost wherever there are some dense bushes for nesting. It forages mostly while hopping on the ground or in low bushes, sometimes higher in trees. They readily come to bird feeders, where it favors sunflower seeds.

The male Northern Cardinal is perhaps responsible for getting more people to open up a field guide than any other bird. They have a a shade of red you can’t take your eyes off. Even the brown females sport a sharp crest and warm red accents. Cardinals don’t migrate and they don’t molt into a dull plumage, so they’re still breathtaking in winter’s snowy backyards. In summer, their sweet whistles are one of the first sounds of the morning.

Both parents feed nestlings. Young leave the nest about 9 – 11 days after hatching. Males may feed fledglings while females begin the next nesting attempt. They have two to three broods per year, rarely four.

Their diet consists mostly of seeds, insects, berries. Diet is quite varied. They feed on many insects, including beetles, true bugs, grasshoppers, caterpillars, ants, flies, and many others, also spiders, centipedes, and snails. Most of their diet is vegetable matter, including seeds of weeds and grasses, waste grain, leaf buds, flowers, and many berries and wild fruits. Young are fed mostly insects.

While nesting, the male sings to defend nesting territory, actively attacking intruding males (and attacking his own reflection in windows and mirrors). In courtship, male and female raise heads high, sway back and forth while singing softly; male often feeds female early in breeding season. The female sings mainly in spring before the start of nesting. The nest is usually well hidden in dense shrubs, vines, or low trees, placed 3 – 10 feet above ground, sometimes higher. Nest (built by female) is open cup made of twigs, weeds, grass, bark strips, leaves, rootlets, lined with fine grass or hair.

Nearly any bird feeder you put out ought to attract Northern Cardinals (as long as you live within their range), but they particularly seem to use sunflower seeds. Leave undergrowth in your backyard or around the edges, and you may have cardinals nesting on your property.

Here are some cool facts about cardinals:

– Only a few female North American songbirds sing, but the female Northern Cardinal does, and often while sitting on the nest. This may give the male information about when to bring food to the nest. A mated pair shares song phrases, but the female may sing a longer and slightly more complex song than the male.
– Many people are perplexed each spring by the sight of a cardinal attacking its reflection in a window, car mirror, or shiny bumper. Both males and females do this, and most often in spring and early summer when they are obsessed with defending their territory against any intruders. Birds may spend hours fighting these intruders without giving up. A few weeks later, as levels of aggressive hormones subside, these attacks should end.
– The male cardinal fiercely defends its breeding territory from other males. When a male sees its reflection in glass surfaces, it frequently will spend hours fighting the imaginary intruder.
– The oldest recorded Northern Cardinal was a female, and was 15 years, 9 months old when she was found in Pennsylvania.

Mighty House Mouse Update

Well, he’s baaaack!

Another trap destroyed. I checked on my traps, and sure enough, another broken trap. One of my brand new ones. Sooner or later, I’m going to get down to the bottom of this.

Roland’s trivia question of the week:

Who was the last Boston Bruins player to score 100 points or more before David Pastrnak’s 113 in 2022-23?

Answer
Brad Marchand, 100, in 2018-19.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Holiday Stress-Management Tips for Young Adults

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The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy, celebration, and togetherness. But for most people, the holiday season is definitely not the jolliest time of the year. Young people in particular find the holidays stressful: A Healthline survey found that 65 percent of Gen Z were stressed out by the holiday season, a higher number than either millennials or Boomers.

What makes this season so difficult? “Family drama” was one of the top reasons cited in the survey, along with finances and struggles with eating and exercise. Grief and loss can also feel particularly intense during the holidays. For young people who are dealing with trauma, anxiety, depression, substance use disorder, or another mental health issue, the challenges of the holidays can make symptoms worse. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, two-thirds of those with mental health concerns report that the holidays make their condition worse.

Real life is a lot messier and more complicated than a Hallmark holiday movie. In addition, mental health during the holidays often takes a nosedive because we’re thrown off our usual self-care schedules. However, committing to simple yet effective holiday stress-management strategies can help young adults navigate the season without falling prey to the holiday blues.

Because family is traditionally at the center of holiday activities, family relationships—or the lack of these relationships—are one of the biggest factors contributing to the holiday blues.

This season can be especially hard for those who have troubled relationships with other family members. The same is true for those who are no longer in contact with family due to childhood trauma or other issues, such as a parent’s mental health or substance abuse struggles. The imagery of loving families that is everywhere at this time of year can bring up feelings of loneliness, grief, anger, and disappointment.

But even families who have strong and caring relationships can hit snags at this time of year. Spending lots of time together in close quarters often brings up old conflicts and disagreements. It can even trigger age regression, when young adults who are returning home after living on their own can fall back into the rebellious behaviors they had as teens. That’s particularly true if their parents haven’t adjusted yet to treating them as fellow adults rather than children.

Seven Tips to Reduce Holiday Stress

1. Create healthy boundaries

Boundaries can apply to relationships as well as self-care. For example, you may need to create boundaries around how much time you will spend with certain family members who can be emotionally triggering. Or you may need to set limits on your alcohol consumption if you’ll be going to lots of holiday parties with friends and family.

2. Get enough sleep

A recent study found that sleep is one of the top three pillars of mental health and well-being for young adults.

3. Remember that you’re not the only one feeling the holiday blues

You are not alone – struggles with mental health during the holidays are very common. The recognition that “it’s okay to not be okay” is just as true during the holiday season. Practice mindfulness and self-compassion, and reach out to loved ones who will understand and empathize with the emotions you’re experiencing.

4. Maintain your regular exercise schedule

Exercise is proven to increase stress resilience and reduce stress hormones.

5. Do something for others

Research shows that volunteering offers mental and physical health benefits, and there are lots of opportunities to do so during the holiday season.

6. Set realistic expectations

If the holidays tend to be a challenging time for you and your family, don’t expect that everything will change this year – even if you’ve changed and grown. Rather than striving for a picture-perfect holiday season, recognize and prepare for the moments that might be hard.

7. Focus on what’s meaningful for you about the holiday season

Whether or not you relate to the religious significance of the winter holidays, you can find a sense of meaning and authentic connection during this season – connection with yourself, others, and your greater community.

As we’ve seen, it’s not unusual to experience stress and holiday blues during this time of year. But if depressive symptoms are severe, or if they last longer than a week or two, the next step is to get a comprehensive mental health assessment and explore treatment options.